Last stand for Australia's monarchists

Submitted by subed on Thu, 01/05/2008 - 05:15
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Barbara McMahon | April 27, 2008

Pro-royalty campaigners are preparing to block the new Prime Minister's road to a republic

In the elegant surroundings of the New South Wales parliament in Sydney last week, some 140 Australian monarchists lunched on roast beef at a celebration of the Queen's birthday.

After pudding was served, former Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer urged the audience to fight plans to make Australia a republic. 'It's very important that people who believe in the stability and the continuity of our constitution have the courage to stand up and support it,' he said. 'I say courage very advisedly because, I warn you, people who support the present arrangement will be ridiculed.'

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Cartoon: The Australian